title: Endothelial dysfunction: causes and consequences in patients with diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Vascular endothelium plays a major role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Nitric oxide is the most powerful vasodilating compound. Diabetes disrupts endothelial integrity through an increased oxidative stress. Recent evidence indicates that there is a strong interaction between diabetes, the secretory proteins of adipocytes, called adipokines, and endothelium. Endothelial dysfunction may precede the development of overt DM, and a prolonged and repeated exposure to postprandial hyperglycemia may play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis, even in those who have normal fasting plasma glucose levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Padova, Medical School, Padova, Italy. angelo.avogaro@unipd.it
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avogaro
authors.forename: Saula Vigili
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: de Kreutzenberg
authors.forename: Gianpaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fadini
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D009569:Nitric Oxide